Clapping mittens for increasing crowd clapping effect



Jan. 20, 1970 J. M. CRAWFORDQSR CLAPPING MITTENS FOR INCREASING CROWDCLAPPING EFFECT 2 SheetsSheet 1 Filed July 24, 1967 J4 MES M (k4l/i/FORD, 5R,

INVENTOR Jan. 20, 1970 J. M. CRAWFORD, SR 3,490,410

CLAPPING MI'ITENS FOR INCREASING CROWD CLAPPING EFFECT Filed July 24,196'? 2 Sheets-$heet 2 T [7J1 5 JAAS CHM/mag 5/2.

United States Patent Office 3,490,410 Patented Jan. 20, 1970 3 490 410CLAPPING MITTENS Fo1z INCREASING CROWD CLAPPING EFFECT James M.Crawford, Sr., League City, Tex.

(535 Nasa Blvd., Apt. 1111A, Webster, Tex. 77598) Filed July 24, 1967,Ser. No. 655,571 Int. Cl. G08]: 3/02 US. Cl. 116-67 Claims ABSTRACT OFTHE DISCLOSURE As a primary object the invention sets out to providespectators at athletic events with means readily carried into thespectators seats and installed on hands at the suggestion of substantialapplause, as to inspire a rally for the home team.

The invention also has an important object of providing means to beinstalled on the hands of a number of people, each to bring theirclappers together in substantial unison, so that each thus produces alarger amount of noise than could be produced by individualhand-clapping, while the substantially increased volume of noise has adesigned effect.

The invention also has as an important object the fact that the clapperscan be made of a variety of materials; as can the hand connections orhandles; also the clappers may be of a variety of shapes, as desired.

As a further object, the invention may be taken with ease to thelocation of a sporting event, where a rally or burst of loud feeling,the clapper mittens being designed to be carried in a mans insidepocket, or in a purse.

Also, as still a further object, the invention may be employed at anyevent or on any occasion where the volume of noise of demonstrationand/or applause is desired to be magnified, the clapping mittens beingeasily carried and easily and positively installed on the hands to bebrought together in clapping action.

Other and further objects will be apparent when specification isconsidered in connection with the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a pair of clapping mittens in which thehands are insertable into a resilient or stretchable material, aselastic, to hold the hands removably connected to the clappers;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view, of the clapper mittens, as shown inFIG. 1 installed on the hands indicated as employing the mittens in theact of clapping;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a pair of clapper mit tens in which eachmitten in shown as comprised of two hingedly connected sections;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a clapping mitten as shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a clapping mitten with hand connectionand clapper formed integrally of plastic;

FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a clapper mitten in which the handconnection comprises a plurality of spaced apart straps conventionallyconnected on each side to the clapper;

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a clapper mitten in which the handconnection comprises a plurality of buckle connected straps, as ofleather, with the outer ends of the straps conventionally connected tothe clapper;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of a clapper mitten in which the handconnection comprises a plurality of spaced apart strings, conventionallyconnected on each side to the clapper and tied together over the hand tocomplete connection;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of a slapper mitten portion, the clapperbeing of polygonal shape, in which the clapper is formed of plastic;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of a clapper mitten portion, the clapperbeing of rectangular or square shape, in which the clapper is formed byhard rubber, or the like;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a clapper mitten portion, the clapperbeing of triangular shape, in which the clapper is formed of a fiber, asrubber;

FIG. 12 is a sectional elevation through a pair of clapper mittens inwhich the opposed clappers have concave surfaces to be brought intoopposition as the clapper surfaces thereabout are brought into impact;the clappers being shown as comprised of wood;

FIG. 13 is a sectional elevation through a pair of clapper mittens, onehaving a concave and the other having a convex central surface, wherebythe noise of impact may be increased when the clappers are brought intocontact; the clappers being shown as comprised of metal;

FIG.-14 is an isometric view of a clapper mitten portion, the clapperbeing of round or oval shape, the clapper being formed of a refractoryor ceramic material;

FIG. 15 is an isometric view of a clapper mitten portion, the clapperbeing the shape of a hand, the material of which the clapper is madebeing indicated as wood;

FIG. 16 is an isometric view, part in section, of a pair of clappermittens, in which the material of which the clapper is made is of metal,as steel, the contact faces of the clappers being longitudinallyserrated or grooved with the object of creating more noise on impact;and

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary isometric view of a corner of a clapper mittenin which the back or outer surface of the clapper is padded to pad thepalm of the hand upon clapper imact.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the clappers 10a, 10b shown inFIG. 1 may be of any desired shape or material, the upper ends 11a, 11bbeing shown slightly beveled on each side. An elastic handle 12,resilient and stretchable, is provided to receive the hands thereinto.As shown in FIG. 2, as an observer faces a clapping spectator, theelastic handles or backs 12 stretches to fit the size of hands insertedthereinto, and the spectator or manipulator brings his hands together tobring the flat, contact surfaces 10a, 10b into clapping contact, louderthan can be produced by the hands.

As shown in FIG. 5, a clapping mitten 42 is shown with clapper 43 andhand connection means 44 formed integrally, as of plastic 45.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 a clapping mitten construction is shown where theclapper is comprised of two sections 14a, 14b connected by a hinge means15, as a leaf spring. Suitable bands or straps 16a, 16b, 16c connectedat their ends to the outer faces of the clapper sections, are shown toprovide means into which the hands may be inserted. This type of clappermittens can be employed to provide successive impacts, either the palmsbeing first manipulated to bring the lower sections 14b into impact,with the finger holding parts 14a then being manipulated to bring theupper sections 14a into impact.

As shown in FIG. 6, the back side of a clapper 17a is shown having threespaced apart straps 18a, 18b and connected to the clapper, by suitableconventional means, for the insertion of the hand.

In FIG. 7 the back of a clapper 17b is shown providing leather straps,19a, 1912, with ends conventionally and suitably connected to theclapper 17b, the straps being tightened or loosened across the back ofthe hand, by means of the tongue and buckle arrangements 17a, 170.

In FIG. 8 the back of a clapper 170 is shown providing a spaced apartpair of strings, 20a, 20b suitably connected to the sides of the clapper170, the strings 20a, 2017 being suitably tied together across the backof the hand inserted therein, as by the bows 21a, 215.

As shown in FIGS. 9, and 11, respective polygonal, rectangular, andtriangular plates 22, 23, 24 are shown, each comprising a part of aclapper, the plates or clappers thus indicated as being of plastic 25,hard rubber 26 and leather or fabric 27, respectively. Each of thesematerials, in proper thickness, hardness and processing may becalculated to produce much more noise than if the palms of.

the bare hands are brought together in the act of clapping. Noticeablythe plastic of the plate 22 is indicated as being transparent.

As shown in FIG. 12, variation in sound is sought by having the opposedfaces 29a, 29b of two clappers 30a, 30b centrally concave, thus toprovide a free space between the clappers when they are broughttogether, from which greater noise may originate.

Also, as shown in FIG. 13, one of the variations of two clappers 31a isconcave centrally at 33, or dished out,

while the other clapper 31b is convex or bulged out at 3317. Thus uponimpact there is substantially greater noise to be created than by handto hand contact.

As shown in FIG. 14, a clapper 32 of a pair of clapper mittens isdisclosed which may be of round or oval shape,

at least atone end, or at both ends; the clapper being indicated asbeing constructed of a refractory material 34. As shown in FIG. 15, aclapper 35 of a pair 'of clapper mittens, having the shape of a hand, isdisclosed, the hand being indicated as being constructed of wood 36.

' As shown in FIG. 16, a pair of clapper mittens 37 is shown, as viewedfrom one end thereof, the clapper contact faces having longitudinallyextending grooves 38 therein,

while the hand connection means is shown comprising an elastic band 12a,comparably as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG. 17, the clappersmay be cushioned,

\ as with a sponge rubber cushion 39, to minimize the shock of impactagainst the palms of the spectator, a section of a clapper 40 beingshown to which the cushion rubber 39 is attached, the clapper 40 beingindicated as constructed of a plastic material 41.

The invention is thus comprehensively selective as to the material ofthe hand connection means, and as to the material of the clappers, alsoas to the shape of the clappers and as to the shape, construction, andnumber of straps or connection means extending across the back of thehand. Thus a clapper of one shape may be shown with a hand connectionmeans of another type than indicated in g the examples of the drawings,and also the materials of which the clappers are constructed may beselectively varied both as to the hand connection means with which Icombined, and as to the shapes of the clappers.

but other shape, materials and combinations are considered as long assuch fall within the broad spirit of the invention, and within the broadscope of interpretation claimed for, and merited by, the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A pair of clapper mittens with hand connection means thereon wherebythe hands may be inserted in connection means with palms to bear on theback sides of the mitten clappers so that in clapping the opposed facesof the clapper are brought into face impact to magnify the sound ofclapping, the mitten clapper for each hand being divided into twohingedly connected sections.

2. A pair of clapper mittens with hand connection means thereon wherebythe hands may be inserted in connection means with palms to bear on theback sides of the mitten clappers so that in clapping the opposed facesof the clapper are brought into face impact to magnify the sound ofclapping, the mitten clapper for each hand being divided into twohingedly connected sections, said hinge means comprising leaf springmeans. Y

3. A pair of clapper mittens with hand connection means thereon wherebythe hands may be inserted in connection means with palms to bear on theback sides of the mitten clappers so that in clapping the opposed facesof the clapper are brought into face to face impactto magnify the soundof clapping, the hand connection means and said mitten clappers arerigidly integrally formed of a plastic and the clappers providinginterfitting concave and convex surfaces. I

4. Clapping mittens as claimed in claim 3 in which the clappers are handshaped. f 4

5. A pair of clapper mittens with hand, connection means thereon wherebythe hands may be inserted in connection means with palms to bear on theback sides of the mitten clappers so that in clapping the opposed facesof the clapper are brought into face impact tomagnify the sound ofclapping, said clappers beingprovided with longitudinally grooved,inter-meshing contact faces.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 385,002 6/1888 Pagan 84-4022,169,939 8/ 1939 Anderson 9308 2,219,013 10/1940 Krasno 46-1752,644,248 7/ 1953 Seligrnan 46l75 2,810,138 10/1957 Cochran 9-3073,019,553 2/1962 Gomez et a1. 46' 191 3,122,760 3/1964- Glass 93083,170,360 2/1965 Miettinen 46-191 X 3,258,794 7/1966 Goodwin et al. 9307OTHER REFERENCES Publication: Cymbals & Holders from C. Bruno & Son,Inc., catalog #96, p. 346. g

LOUIS R. PRINCE, Primary Examiner v D. YASICH, Assistant Examiner US.or. xn. 2-158; 46175

